Means for straightening or altering the direction or course of a bore-hole.



' F- G. SEINEKE.

MEANS FOR. STRAIGHTENING 0R ALTERING THE DIRECTION DE COURSE OF A BORE HOLE. APPLICATION FILED 00115, 1910.

1 Patented Apr. 9, 1912.

EINTTEE %TATES PATENT @FFICF.

FRANK GEORGE SEINEKE, 0F JOI-IANNESBURG, TRANSVAAL.

MEANS FOR STRAIGHTENING OR ALTERING THE DIRECTION OR COURSE OF A BORE-HOLE.

To aZZ whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, F RANK GEORGE SEINEKE, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Johannesburg, Transvaal, have invented certain new and. useful Improvements in Means for Straightening or Altering the Direction or Course of a Bore-Hole, of which the following is a specification.

In boring with rotary drills, such as diamond-core drills, shot drills and the like, particularly to great depths, it often happens that the course or direction of the bore hole alters after the hole has been bored to some depth. This arises from various causes, and when it does occur it is very difficult, if not impossible, to counteract it.

My invent-ion can be utilized for straight ening the course or direction of a bore hole which has deviated from the vertical, or for altering the course or direction of an inclined bore hole to the vertical.

The invention will be fully described by aid of the accompanying drawing wherein- Figure 1 is a vertical section of a bore hole showing my improved means arranged in position for straightening or correcting the course of a vertical bore hole from the point at which the deviation commenced. Fig. 2 shows it arranged in position for correcting or altering the deviation at a lower point. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 illustrating certain diiferences. Fig. 4 is a part sectional side elevation of the plumbbob t and the means for suspending the same to the boring crown 3, and Fig. 5 is a plan of Fig. A.

In the several figures of the drawings like parts are indicated by the same reference numerals.

1 represents the bore hole, 2 the line of boring rods, and 3 the boring crown fixed to the lowermost boring rod 2.

According to my invention I employ what I may conveniently call a plumb-bob A, and provide means for suspending said plumbbob 4 from the boring crown or bit 3 or the line of boring rods 2 at the point at which it is desired to alter or straighten the course or direction of the hole 1. In the drawing I show the plumb-bob A suspended from the boring crown or hit 3 by providing the latter with a cross-piece or pin 5, having a central hole 6 for attaching thereto a piece .of string 7 (it may be a piece of suitable Specification of Letters latent.

Application filed October 15, 1910.

Patented Apr. 9, 1912.

Serial No. 587,297.

wire, a thin chain, or any other suitable flexible connection) which is attached to an eye-piece 8 provided on the top of the plumb-bob 4. The cross-piece or pin 5 is shown supported on the one side in a recess 9 on the inside of the crown 3, and at the other side in a hole 10 (through which it is projected) which is closed by a screw 11 after the cross-piece o-r pin 5 is in position.

Although I show the plumb-bob suspended from the boring crown, it is to be understood that it may be suspended from the lowermost rod 2, and the latter be provided wit-h the means above described for suspending it therefrom, or with any other suitable means. 7

The plumb-bob 4 is, as shown, preferably tapered or beveled at'the top as indicated at 12 for a suitable portion of its length to insure its engagement by the boring crown 3, after it has been fixed in the desired position, as hereinafter explained. The plumbbob A comprises a cylindrical member of suitable length. It is preferably provided with two spiral grooves 13, 14 of opposite pitch extending around it for a suitable preferably the greater portion of its length. Instead of the spiral grooves 13, 14: the plumb-bob may be provided with indentations or recesses. It may be either solid or hollow.

The length of the plumb-bob used will, to some extent, depend upon the degree of declination or the angle or inclination of the bore hole at the point of deviation to its original course or direction; that is to say, when the angle of deviation is not great, then a longer plumb-bob will usually be employed.

The plumb-bob 4 having been arranged in the required position in the bore hole 2 is cemented in that position. For this purpose I may use hydraulic cement, plaster of Paris, or any other suitable hard-setting cement or material. It is evident that the plumb-bob will hang perpendicularly in the hole 2. It must be of such a length that when in position it does not rest against the wall or side of the bore hole 2 and can therefore assume a truly vertical position therein. If requisite the bore hole can be plugged or filled up in any convenient manner for the whole or any suitable portion of its depth beneath the plumb-bob 4. In Fig. 1 the hole is shown filled up with the cement or other material 15 which is used for fixing the plumb-bob 4 in the desired position.

In Fig. 2 the plumb-bob 4 is shown suspended from the boring crown at a point just above the bottom of the bore hole 2 and some distance below the point where the deviation commenced. A shorter plumbbob 4 is shown used in this case than in Fig. 1. It is shown fixed in the required position by means of the cement or similar hard-setting material 15.

In Fig. 3 the hole 1 is shown filled up to a point x with gravel or other suitable material, and the plumb-bob 4 is fixed with the cement or like material 15 at the point where the deviation commenced. In this case as the angle of deviation is less than in Fig. 1 a longer plumb-bob 4 is used. The dotted lines 3 indicate the new or altered course which the boring crown 3 and boring rods 2 will follow as a result of the use of the plumb-bob 4.

If preferred instead of filling up the hole to the point at which the plumb-bob is arranged it can be plugged in any convenient manner.

After the plumb-bob 4 has been arranged in position in the bore hole 1 and fixed, and the cement 15 inclosing it has set the boring rods 2 can be withdrawn from the hole and the pin or cross-piece 5 removed from the boring crown or bit 3. The boring crown and line of rods 2 are then relowered into the hole and boring operations are proceeded with, and the bit or crown 3 cuts through the cement around the plumb-bob 4, so that the latter operates as a guide for the crown 3 and rods 2, and by that means diverts the bit or crown 3 into a vertical direction and so straightens or alters the direction of the bore hole 1.

The boring crown or bit used for drilling through the cement 15 in which the plumbbob guide 4 is held is preferably constructed as shown in Fig. 4, so that the diamonds 16 or their equivalent do not project beyond the inner edge of the crown; this in order to provide the crown 3 with a smooth surface for engaging the sides of the plumb-bob guide 4.

As will be understood the cement or like material 15 enters the spiral grooves 13, 14 or their equivalent provided in the surface of the cylindrical plumb-bob guide 4, and thereby retains it in position during the boring operation.

What I claim as my invention and desire to protect by Letters Patent is 1. Means for altering the direction or course of a bore hole comprising a plumbbob and a means which fixes'said plumbbob in the bore hole in such a way that it serves as a guide for the boring crown and drill rods.

2. Means for altering the direction or course of a bore hole comprising a cylindrical plumb-bob and a means which fixes said plumb-bob in the bore hole so that it serves as a guide for the boring crown and drill rods.

3. Means for altering the direction or course of a bore hole comprising a cylindrical plumb-bob and a means which fixes said plumb-bob in the bore hole so that it serves as a guide for the boring crown and drill rods, said plumb-bob being'tapered or beveled at the top to facilitate the engagement therewith of the boring crown, as set forth.

4. Means for altering the direction or course of a bore hole comprising a cylindrical plumb-bob and a means which fixes said plumb-bob in the bore hole so that it serves as a guide for the boring crown and drill rods, said plumb-bob being provided with recesses with which its fixing means engages.

5. Means for altering the direction or course of a bore hole comprising a cylindrical plumb-bob and a means which fixes said plu1nbbob in the bore hole so that it serves as a guide for the boring crown and drill rods, said plumb-bob being provided with spiral grooves of opposite pitch with which its fixing means engages.

6. Means for altering the direction or course of a bore hole comprising boring apparatus and a plumb-bob, flexible means for suspending said plumb-bob from said boring apparatus, and means for fixing the plumbbob in position in the bore hole.

7. In means for altering the direction or course of a bore hole, in combination a line of boring rods and a boring crown fixed thereto, a plumb-bob, means for suspending the plumb-bob from the line of rods in the bore hole, and hard setting material for fixing the plumb-bob guide in the desired position in the bore hole as set forth.

8. In means for altering the direction or course of a bore hole, in combination a boring crown and a plumb-bob, and flexible means for suspending the plumb-bob from the boring crown.

9. In means for altering the direction or course of a bore hole, in combination a boring crown and a plumb-bob, means for suspending the plumb-bob from the boring crown comprising a cross-piece fixed to the boring crown, and a flexible connection between said cross-piece and the plumb-bob.

10. In means for altering the direction or course of a bore hole, in combination a boring crown and a plumb-bob, and flexible means for suspending the plumb-bob from the boring crown, the plumb-bob being tapered or beveled at the top to facilitate the engagement therewith of the boring crown.

11. In means for altering the direction or course of a bore hole, in combination a boring crown, a plumb-bob adapted to be fixed in the bore-hole, and flexible means for suspending the plumb-bob from the boring 5 crown, the plumb-bob being constructed with in the bore-hole, and flexible means for suspending the plumb-bob from the boring crown, said plumb-bob being tapered or beveled at the top to facilitate the engagement therewith of the boring crown and formed with two spiral grooves of opposite pitch with which the material used for fixing it in the bore hole engages.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK GEORGE SEINEKE.

Witnesses CHAS. OVENDALE, MAUD POPE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of latents, Washington, D. C. 

